Self-Managed Loaded Exercise vs. Usual Physiotherapy for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: A Pilot RCT (eprints.whiterose.ac.uk)

• High recruitment (98%) and retention (100%) with excellent adherence (90%).
• Both groups improved beyond the minimally clinically important change for SPADI (10 points).
• No significant between-group difference; self-managed exercise appears comparable to usual care.

"This pilot RCT compared a self-managed loaded exercise program to usual physiotherapy in 24 patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy. Recruitment and adherence were high, and both groups showed clinically meaningful improvements on the SPADI. Results support proceeding to a definitive trial to evaluate the effectiveness of self-managed exercise."